Stumped!

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tstark
1

tstark 1

So this came to me in in pieces and it was been repaired and I still have no ideas or what it could be. All I know is thats is from morocco (unknown region), it looks to have "suckers" on the end of the piece which throws me. I have had the thought of a marine plant root of some kind. Thanks for the help!

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FossilDAWG 2,264

FossilDAWG 2,264

I'm a little uncertain about this one being a heteromorph ammonite. First, the straight shaft seems to have chambers, but if those really are chambers their edges (suture lines) look to be straight across, as you would see in a nautiloid not an ammonite. Perhaps a closer picture would resolve the question.

Also the smaller diameter shaft is oddly irregular. There are heteromorphs that have a number of straight shafts that are connected by hairpin turns, such as Diplomoceras or Polyptychoceras, and there are heteromorphic ammonites and also nautiloids that start with a normal planispiral shell that then straightens out; Baculites and Litulites would be examples. However I am unaware of any cephalopods that start with such an irregular, vaguely twisty whorl and then transition via a hairpin curve to a perfectly straight shaft. Has anyone seen this growth form before?

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JohnJ 1,615

JohnJ 1,615

I have some bizarre heteromorph ammonites (likely new species) from the Turonian of Texas. So, unusual morphology doesn't bother me too much. However, I agree with Don that better images or direct observation of complex sutures would help confirm an ammonite. Possible causes for the weird shape could be incorrect assembly during prep, a broken ammonite prepped in a way that makes it seem new, or a pathological specimen.